Automatic weighing-machine.



'N0.'674,386. Patented May 2|, l90l.

J. B. SCHUMAN. AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Applicatiun filed June 25, 1900) v mu Model.) Z-Sheets-Sheai l.

W/TNESSES: I IIVVE/W'Ofi v V g; c KB BY Qfi fi m w ATTORNEY No. 674,386. Patented may 2|, I901.

J. BJSCHUMAN. -AUTOMAT|C WEIGHING mAcHmE.

7 (Application filed June 25, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$het 2.

WITNESSES: I lNVENTOH Q%GZk/4M H ZM/OLiV m: uoams flETiRS on, uo'roumo. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. SCHUMAN, OF COLUMBIA CITY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTHS TO JOSEPH K. SHARPE, JR., AND AUGUSTIN BOICE, OF INDIAN- APOLIS, INDPANA.

AUTOMATIC WElGHING-MACHINE.

' SZPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,386, dated May 21, 1901.

application filed June 25, 1900. Serial No. 21A46. \No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES B. SOHUMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at C0- lumbia City, in the county of Whitley and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Automatic Weighing- Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin automatic weighing-machines.

The object of myinvention is to produce a cheap and efficient automatic weighing-machine particularly designed for use in connection with grain-separators.

The accompanying drawings illustrate. my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation with the parts in receiving position. Fig. 2 isa similar view with the parts in dumping position. Fig. '3 is a plan.

In the drawings, 5 indicates a supportingframe, upon which is pivoted, upon suitable supports, a scale-beam 6, the fulcrum end of whichis bifurcated, so as to receive the bucket 7. Bucket 7 is pivotally mounted at 8 upon the short arm of beamfi, between the ends thereof, said pivotal support or axis being to one side of the center of'bucket 7, so as to slightly unbalance said bucket. When in its upper normal position, the bucket is so arranged that the edge 7' of its heavy side engages a cross-bar 9, carried by frame 5, the said bar preventinga forward rotation of the bucket. Secured to the bottom of the bucket 7 is an adjustable counterweight 10, which may be adjusted toward or from the axis of the bucket upon the light side, the

arrangement being such that said weight may be thrown far enough away from the axis to slightly more than compensate for the heavy side of the bucket, so that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the normal tendency of the bucket when empty is to swing upon its axis in a reverse direction, said movement being prevented, however, by a spring-latch 11, carried by the frame and cooperating with a portion of the bucket. l

The material to be weighed may-be introduced into the bucket by anydesired means. In the drawings I have shown a screw-conveyer 12 for the purpose, the casing 13 of said conveyer being provided with a dischargeopening 14:. Opening 14 is normally closed by a spring-door 15, provided with an arm 16, arranged to be engaged by finger 17, carried by bucket 7. Beam 6 is provided with a suitable counterpoise 18 and is provided with a scale of the usual form. Located beneath the machine in position to receive the material discharged from bucket 7 is any suitable form of hopper or receiver 19.

In operation the bucket when empty lies in the position shown in Fig. 1. The upper edge 7 lies against cross-bar 9, and catch 11 engages frame 5, so as to prevent the normal tendency of a reverse rotation caused by the counterweight 10. In this position finger 17 has engaged arm 16, so as to open door 15. In view of the fact that the axis 8 of the bucket is upon the same'side of the medial line as counterweight 10 the turning moment about said axis is gradually shifted by the introduction of the material to be Weighed until it passes to that side of the medial line opposite Weight 10 on the same side asedge 7. The introduction of material into the bucket causes a depression of the shortarm of beam 6 as soon as sufiicient weight has been introduced to counterbalance poise 18. This movement lowers edge 7 until it! may pass beneath cross-bar 9. As soon as this occurs the bucket will rotate in the direction indicatedby the arrow, owing to the preponderance of weight upon the right-hand side of the axis, Fig. 1, at the same time withdrawing finger 17from arm 16 and allowing door 15 to close, so as to shut off the supply of material. The weight of the material is'enongh to revolve the bucket to the position indicated in Fig. 2, by which time weight 10 will have crossed'the axis of the bucket, and the introduced weight having dropped out said weight will cause a continuation of the movement of the empty bucket in the same directionwill be sufficient to carry the bucketslightly beyond the position shown in Fig. 1, so as to allow latch 11 to take under frame 5. The

withdrawal of the introduced weight from the bucket allows beam 6 to resume its normal position, so that when the above-de- The moment of inertia of weight 10 scribed operation takes place edge '7 will come into engagement with cross-bar 9 at-the same time that latch 11 comes into action.

As the bucket 7 nears the completion of its revolution finger 17 comes into engagement withfarm 16 anclopensdoor 15, so as to permit the material to resu me its qrlovementinto the bucket.

It will be noticed that the center of gravity of the bucket when empty lies upon one side of the axis 8, while the center ,of gravity-of the bucket when full lies upon the opposite side of said axis, so that'said axis may be said to be upon -,one side of "the center ofgravit-yg; of the bucket, but upon the oppositeside of the center of gravity of the interior of said bucket.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an automaticweighing-machine, the

combination with a beam, of a receptacle revolubly mounted thereon, the axis of said receptacle being upon one side of the center of gravity of said receptacleas a whole and upon the opposite side of the center of gravity ofthe load-receiving portion of said receptacle,'

means for holding the receptacle in position to receive material, and means for allowing a rotation of said receptacle after thecenter ofgravity of the loaded receptacle has passed to the opposite side'of the axis.

2. In an automatic weighi-ngmachine, a single completely-rotatable receptaclehavin'g a center of gravity and a center ofinterior which do not coincide, an axis of rotation passing between said centers, and a weigh-beam support for said axis of rotation.

"3. *In an automatic weighing-machine, the combination with a suitable supportingframe, of a weigh-beam mounted thereon, a receptacle revolubly mounted upon said beam, the weight of said receptacle being unbalan ced about an axis andtendingto rotate said- ,receptacle in a reversedirection, and the interior of said receptacle having its major portion upon the oppositesi'de of the axis of rotation, means for preventing a reverse rotaztion of said receptacle, means for normally holding said receptacle against forward rotation, and means for releasing said receptacle ,so as to allow forward rotation.

4. In an automatic weighing-machine, the combination with a suitable supportingframe, of a weigh-beam mounted thereon, areceptacle revolubly mounted on said weighbeam -the majorpor-tion of the weight of said receptacle being upononeside of the axis of rotation and the major portion of theinterior of said receptacle upon theopposite side of said axis, a catch for preventing a rotation of said receptacle in the direction of weight of' said receptacle, and-abar carried'by said frame for normally engagiugsaid receptacle on that side of the axisupon which the major portion ofthe interior :lies, thearraugement beingsuch that aweight introducedinto said receptacle will counterbalance the weighbeam and withdraw the receptacle from engagement with the frame.

JAMES B. SGHUMAN Witnesses:

Aucusrm Boron,

ARTHUR M. H001). 

